Hamilton Beach 33141 4-Quart Oval Slow Cooker

Hamilton Beach 33141 4-Quart Oval Slow Cooker Review

I have had this slow cooker for about 4 months. I am an occasional user. I waited to write a review because I wanted to use it enough times to have an informed opinion. I also waited because of all the negative reviews from owners who had been using one for more than three months.

Pros: Simple, very easy to use, just the right size for a small roast, cooks just as advertised, oval shape, cooking elements in the sides instead of the base, nice design, great value.
Cons: No indicator lights of any kind, no timer, no automatic shut off, no programmable cooking options, no digital read out, no notch in the bowl for a remote thermometer probe.

Sometimes less is more. This cooker does not have any bells and whistles, but it does a good job of slow cooking a roast, and there is little to go wrong. There is no timer, automatic shut off, programmable cooking options, LED indicators, or LCD readout. While you may think some or all of those missing options are essential, I’ve found it to be very easy to use, and it works just great without any extras. It occurs to me that this simplicity makes this cooker more reliable. Gee, I may be stuck with it for a long time. The only change I’d make is to have at least one LED to indicate that it is on and working. Then again, after a few minutes, I can confirm it is on by touching the metal side. If it’s starting to get warm, it’s on. One other change I’d like to see, which would not affect the simplicity, is a small notch in the rim of the bowl so that I could insert a remote thermometer probe.

Speaking of the metal becoming hot … well, duh! Yes it does. The reviewers who complained about this are like the person who complains because the coffee is hot. You won’t need the observation skills of Sherlock Holmes to note this cooker has nice big plastic handles which stay at a comfortable temperature for handling. It seems like the other major complaint from reviewers is the on/off/temperature dial. Maybe this has been revised, or maybe we were lucky and bought a good one, but there isn’t the slightest evidence that it is cracking, warping, or about to fail. Like the handles, though the dial is warm to the touch after 10 hours of cooking, it’s far from hot. I’ve had zero problem with water leaking from the lid while cooking, but then, I did read and follow the instructions.

The four quart size is perfect for a couple or a small family. 2 to 3 pound roasts fit comfortably, and we shoe horned a 4 pound rib eye roast in, but I’d say a 4 pound roast is about the limit. The oval shaped bowl is much more suited to the oblong shape of most things you are likely to cook in a slow cooker. Whether you buy this cooker, or another one, I’d suggest you put an oval shape at the top of your wish list.

I was skeptical about this cooker and almost passed it up because of the negative reviews. So far, I am glad I took a chance. Recommended.